By Barry Sollenberger
Daily Sports Editor
No one thought it could be done.
A Michigan victory over Ohio State? Impossible. After all, the Buckeyes were 17 1/2 point favorites in Columbus over a Michigan team that had the pulse of a mummy in its two most recent games - losses to both Penn State and Purdue.
So what happened?
The No. 21 Wolverines scored 13 unanswered points to shock the second-ranked and previously unbeaten Buckeyes, 13-9, in front of a stunned crowd of 94,676 at Ohio Stadium.
"No matter what the outside world, other people and the odds said, we thought we could win," Michigan linebacker Jarrett Irons said.
The Buckeyes (7-1 Big Ten, 10-1 overall) had won 14 in a row at home, and were rarely challenged through the first ten games of this season. On the other side, Michigan appeared headed to its third straight loss for the first time since 1979.
Most everyone not wearing a Michigan uniform felt this was the year that Ohio State would atone for losses in 1993 and 1995 to Michigan - each time when the Buckeyes were unbeaten and still in the national title hunt - just as they were going into this season finale.
But it wasn't going to happen this time, either.
Ohio State used three Josh Jackson field goals to lead, 9-0, at the half. The game was even more lopsided than the score indicated, however, because the Buckeyes had outgained the Wolverines, 220-62.
But on the second play of the third quarter, the stats and odds didn't mean much.
Brian Griese, replacing the injured and ineffective Scott Dreisbach at quarterback for the Wolverines (5-3, 8-3), faced a second and nine from the Michigan 31. He whipped a quick pass to his right, where Tai Streets was slanting across the middle. Ohio State's Shawn Springs, called the best cornerback in the nation by his coach, lost his footing for an instant. That was long enough.
Streets caught the pass and raced down the middle of the field untouched. Remy Hamilton's extra-point kick cut the lead to 9-7. He later added a 43-yard field goal on the final play of the third quarter to put Michigan on top by a point. The kick was into a strong wind and had every Michigan fan in America on the verge of cardiac arrest before it slipped inside the right upright.
"After they scored, they were a different team," Ohio State coach John Cooper said.
In the second half, Michigan held Ohio State - averaging 466 yards a game - to 84 yards. The Buckeyes rushed for just five net yards in 11 carries.
Meanwhile the Wolverines rebounded to pick up 237 yards. Included in Michigan's second-half domination was a 5 1/2-minute march on its last possession that covered 69 yards and set up Hamilton's 39-yard field goal with 1:19 remaining.
"We felt if it was close in the fourth quarter, we would win," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "That last drive was a beauty."
A year ago, Ohio State was driving for a potential tying touchdown against the Wolverines when Charles Woodson intercepted a Bob Hoying pass in Michigan territory. This time, Joe Germaine was picked off by cornerback Marcus Ray - a Columbus native, no less - at the Michigan 15 on the game's final play.
"I'd rather not go to the Rose Bowl and beat Ohio State than go to the Rose Bowl and not beat Ohio State," Ray said.
That will have to satisfy the Wolverines. They have a 9-2-1 record in the last 12 meetings with their rivals, including saddling Ohio State's John Cooper with a 1-7-1 record in the most important game on his schedule.
"They made one big play in the game and we didn't," Cooper said, referring to Streets' catch and Springs' slip.
Ohio State must now regroup to play in its first Rose Bowl in 12 years. Third-ranked and undefeated Arizona State awaits the Buckeyes. But it may be hard to put aside thoughts of yet another loss to Michigan.
"It's sickening, it's an awful feeling," Ohio State fullback Matt Calhoun said. "I thought I can't have this type of feeling again and here I am feeling it again."
Three years ago, the Buckeyes were 9-0-1 and lost their season finale at Michigan, 28-0. Last season, Ohio State came into Ann Arbor 11-0 and left 11-1, thanks to a 31-23 Michigan upset victory.
With the victory, the Wolverines are likely headed to Tampa for the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, will limp to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl.
- The Associate Press contributed to this report.
JOE WESTRATE/Daily
Ohio State's Joe Germaine had a difficult time orchestrating any kind of offense in the second half with Wolverines like James Hall in his face.